USF 1997-98 Undergraduate Catalog - Pages 82 - 83 | Course Descriptions |
Gerontology is the study of the process of human aging in all its many aspects: physical, psychological, and social. In the Department of Gerontology particular emphasis is placed upon applied gerontology, with the goal of educating students who in their professional careers will work to sustain or improve the quality of life of older persons. Since Gerontology is an interdisciplinary field, dual majors with other departments are encouraged. The Department offers the degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Gerontology, Bachelor of Science in Gerontology, a minor in Gerontology, and Master of Arts in Gerontology. The Department of Gerontology also hosts the University-wide Ph.D. in Aging Studies.
The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Gerontology entails 37 semester hours of required course work. In this program the course of study is intended to provide students with a liberal education in gerontology and some exposure to the various career opportunities in the field of aging. This degree is especially appropriate for students who plan to pursue graduate or professional work in gerontology, or some other field, or who plan to work with older adults in careers other than Nursing Home Administration.
B.A. students may, upon approval of the departmental advisor, arrange to complete the B.A. internship (GEY 4945) half-time over two semesters, or to substitute 6 hours of GEY electives for the internship. The departmental advisor will also consider other requests for course substitution as long as the 37 semester hours in Gerontology are attained.
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Gerontology is a 39 semester hour specialist degree which, in addition to providing students with a basic education in gerontology, is intended to prepare them for entry level positions in Nursing Home Administration. It is especially appropriate for students who intend to begin working immediately following completion of the degree program.
Students also complete the following twelve (12) hours of prerequisites: ACG 2021, ACG 2071, CGS 2000, and GEY 3000.
These courses are intended to reflect educational requirements mandated by the State of Florida and specified in Chapter 21z.11 of the Florida Administrative Code.
Students in the B.S. program should understand that they will only be allowed to register for the full-time internship (GEY 4945) after successful completion of all (or all but one) of the required courses in the B.S. major. Because the B.S. internship requires full-time effort, students will be allowed to take no more than four (4) credits concurrent with the B.S. internship.
The gerontology prerequisite can only be satisfied by a student's having taken GEY 3000 at this university or its equivalent at another institution. The prerequisites of accounting can be fulfilled by taking ACG 2021 and ACG 2071 at this university or comparable work at another institution.
Students interested in either the B.A. or the B.S. option should contact the Department as early as possible in their careers at the University of South Florida.
An undergraduate minor in Gerontology is available for students interested in pursuing careers in conjunction with any undergraduate major, but it should be particularly beneficial to persons majoring in such disciplines as anthropology, communication sciences and disorders, government and international affairs, nursing, psychology, health care, social work, and sociology. Requirements for the minor in Gerontology are a total of 16 hours of the following upper-level courses: GEY 3000 (3), GEY 3625 (3), HUS 4020 (4), GEY 3601 (3), GEY 4360 (3)
Students wishing to transfer to USF should complete the A.A. degree at the community college. Some courses required for the major may also meet General Education Requirements thereby transferring maximum hours to the university. A minimum of 60 semester hours must be completed at the university unless prior approval is secured. If students transfer without an A.A. degree and have fewer than 60 semester hours of acceptable credit, the students must meet the university’s entering freshman requirements including ACT or SAT test scores, GPA, and course requirements.
The transfer student should also be aware of the immunization, foreign language, and continuous enrollment policies of the university.
For those seeking the Bachelor of Science degree, students complete the prerequisite courses listed below prior to be admitted to the upper-division major. Unless stated otherwise, a grade of “C” is the minimum acceptable grade.
For those seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree, students should complete STA X122 (Social Science Statistics) at the lower level prior to entering the University. If this course is not taken at the community college, it must be completed before the degree is granted. A grade of “C” is the minimum acceptable grade. Acceptable substitutes for STA X122 are: QMB 2150 or QMB X100, STA 2022, X013, X014, X040, X023, or X024. There are no other common prerequisites for the Gerontology program leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree.
USF 1997-98 Undergraduate Catalog - Page 105
Program of Study at a Florida Community/Junior College or SUS School for Students Planning to Transfer to USF (State Mandated Common Prerequisites)
GERONTOLOGY FACULTY
Chairperson: W. E. Haley; Professors: W. E. Haley, S. V. Saxon, H. Sheppard; Associate Professors: J. L. Garcia, W. P. Mangum, L. J. Polivka, J. H. Skinner; Adjunct Professors: M. Brooks, M. J. Etten, S. Hoffman, M. Kaplan, B. McCulloch, L. Mosby, M. Mushel, G. Paveza; Courtesy Professor: J. Mortimer.
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USF 1997-98 Undergraduate Catalog - Pages 124 - 125
GEY 3000 INTRODUCTION TO GERONTOLOGY -SS (3)
This course is designed to be an introduction to the study of aging. The aging process is viewed from a multi-disciplinary perspective including the biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of aging.
GEY 3601 BEHAVIOR CHANGES IN LATER LIFE (3)
A survey of physical and psychological aspects of aging from middle age through older age. Course emphasis will be on basic age-related changes and their implications for behavior in older age.
GEY 3625 SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECTS OF AGING -6A -SS -AF (3)
Consideration of human aging in a broad sociocultural context. Course emphasis will be on historical, philosophic, and demographic aspects of aging, theories of social gerontology, attitudes toward aging and the aged, cross-cultural perspectives on aging, the sociology of retirement, and aging and the community.
GEY 4327 LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATION I (3)
PR: GEY 3000. A survey of Long Term Care (LTC) environments. Explored are such issues as definitions of LTC, physiological conditions of LTC uses, the institutional setting, the sociopsychological context, and methods of evaluation and intervention.
GEY 4328 LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATION II (3)
PR: GEY 4327. Administration of long-term care institutions from a group dynamics perspective. Emphasis on informed problem solving and decision-making via analysis of the psychosocial and sociocultural environment in the nursing home community, including case studies and actual visits to nursing homes. Course objective is to create efficient and humane living and working conditions in nursing homes.
GEY 4329 LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATION III (3)
PR: GEY 4328. This course will familiarize the student with the basic aspects of nursing home administration through the practical application of management theory and concepts.
GEY 4360 GERONTOLOGICAL COUNSELING (3)
An introduction to the study of the major mental health problems of the elderly. Current approaches to counseling the elderly in community and institutional settings are discussed.
GEY 4401 RESEARCH METHODS IN GERONTOLOGY (3)
PR: STA 2122 or equivalent. Restricted to Gerontology majors, others by departmental permission. Methods and techniques of social research in gerontology. Design of gerontological studies, collection and analysis of data, interpretation of results, and preparation of reports.
GEY 4610 PSYCHOLOGY OF AGING (3)
A comprehensive overview of psychological aspects of aging. Topics will include age-related changes in sensation/perception, cognition, and personality, as well as application to late-life psychopathology. (Also offered under Psychology.)
GEY 4640 DEATH AND DYING (3)
PR: GEY 3000. A broad overview of the basic concepts and psychosocial issues relating to the meaning of loss and death, the process of death, and the experience of grieving. Health care practices are considered along with community resources.
GEY 4900 DIRECTED READINGS (1-3)
PR: CI. A reading program with topics in gerontology conducted under the supervision of a faculty member.
GEY 4935 SPECIAL TOPICS IN GERONTOLOGY (3)
Courses on topics such as preretirement, mental health, human services organization, nursing home administration, the older woman, and elder abuse will be offered.
GEY 4945 FIELD PLACEMENT (3-9)
PR: CI. Internship in an agency or community setting. An assignment to an agency or organization, engaged in planning or administering programs for older people if in the BA program (3-6 hours). A full-time assignment to a nursing home in the BS program (9 hours) subject to availability of internship sites approved by the Department of Gerontology.
GEY 5620 SOCIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF AGING (3)
Examines, within a sociological frame of reference, the interrelationships between the aged (or aging) and the structure and function of the social systems and its major institutionalized subsystems.
GEY 5630 ECONOMICS AND AGING (3)
Examines basic economic systems as they impact the aged. Emphasis is on applied aspects of economic planning, pensions, insurance, social security, and other support systems.
GEY 5642 PERSPECTIVES ON DEATH AND DYING (3)
Study of the various psychological, medical, legal, and religious problems caused by dying and death, and of how individuals and groups have responded in the past and present.
HUS 3001 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN SERVICES (3)
An introduction to the field of human services. Study of the professions and agencies involved in providing human services. Analysis of the values and ethics of various professional associations.
HUS 4020 THE LIFE CYCLE (4)
An examination of individuals and the physiological and psychosocial changes which occur during infancy, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle age and old age.
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Karen M. Hall - webCat@ugs.usf.edu
Effective Date: Semester I, 1997
http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/9798/geron.htm